At long last, we are excited to announce we’re expecting a whole crop of beans from Natchez (sire to Reaver, Sukuna, and Terror) and Nacho. With the joy that both dogs carry into this world, we expect a bounty harvest of smiles and butt bumps. Truly, though, the sky will be the limit as these magic beans sprout and we can’t wait to share them with the world!
‘24 Best Male Veteran in Journee CH Natchez De L’Ombre Rouge De Phrygie BN RM RAE FDC BCAT CGC TKI ATT
“Natchez”
Hips – HD-A (3 years); mild (6 years)
Elbows – ED-0 (3 years); normal (6 years)
Eyes – Normal
Advanced Cardio – Normal
Dentition – Normal
Chic # 183173
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‘24 Best Female in Journee
CH Cotija Z Farmy Dar RN* CGC TKN VHMA FITB* HIC
“Nacho”
Hips – Good
Elbows – Normal
Shoulder – Normal
Eyes – Normal
Advanced Cardio – Normal
Chic # 217502
Pedigree
This pairing is an interesting exercise in diversity. Behind both dogs are strong pedigrees and notable ancestors that excel in both show and sport. In fact, we see some our favorites that blend beauty and brains that we’ve worked hard to include in our program. However, none of these ancestors are shared within the litter’s 5 generation pedigree.
Behind Natchez, we have his sire, Furtif, who comes from a proven pedigree of bitesports and was able to apply that genetic potential to police work. We also love several of the French Champions woven in his lineage such as Ufana, Jody, and Bouba. This combination promised and delivered on a male that’s just as comfortable in a show ring as he is evaluating a threat against his family.
But we’d be negligent to only look at his ancestors. Natchez is also a proven producer, siring Reaver, Sukuna, and Terror within the BDV program. All display lovely drive and have had success in the show ring. Notably, we see Natchez’s focus and handler engagement in them all. When given a job, they take it seriously (if not with a bit of sass). To say we’re excited for more Natchez puppies is an understatement.
Nacho brings much of the same blend to the table. She shares a sire with Svajone’s Paname, who offers the same grin and joyful approach to life. We were thrilled to bring a Popeye daughter into our program, having seen how he lends both beauty and drive to his progeny. Jewel, her dam, has proven herself both in and out of the whelping box. Her progeny have excelled across many venues, showing off the versatility of the breed.
Overall, we love to see a pedigree combination that promises a dog that can go to work one day, float around the show ring the next, and then enjoy a slow day at home.
Phenotype
This breeding is a lesson in averages. Both dogs bring many strong features to the table, but a careful design of all of their best parts has the potential to be a powerhouse in the show ring. Both have that “it” factor that draws your eye, so we’re expecting the beans to be magical with sheer force of personality.
Nacho floats, effortlessly covering ground. In profile, the balance persists with harmonious moderation and a strong, level topline. While we’d like to see a more compact dog, she still has lovely bone. We love how elegantly her neck transitions into her topline. Even at a stand, her tail is never without the trademark J hook. Her breadth of chest has come in beautifully with age and her loin has already filled out even without having had a litter. Her color has faded with age, but she still maintains some bright patches that highlight her shoulder layback phenomenally.
You rarely get to evaluate her expression without her trademark grin. When you do, you see lovely, dark eyes, vibrant rusk markings, and well set ears. In profile, you’ll notice some rounding of her top skull, a scooping stop, and a little lack of underjaw – all areas we hope to improve upon in her progeny.
Overall, she’s a dog with strong, functional structure and great breed type that has been well awarded in the show ring, though she spends most of her days enjoying her couch.
Natchez brings substance and power to the equation. At 9 years old, he has never looked better – aging like fine wine. For all of his bone and density of muscle, he’s a dog built more for explosive movement than marathons. However, his balanced angulation can still be highlighted in motion. His front assembly allows for very flashy reach, which he has passed to his progeny.
He is unmistakably a beauceron in expression, though lacking a bit in refinement. He’s more likely to be gazing lovingly at his people with his tongue hanging out than to smoulder, but you can’t help but smile at his joy.
With his junior handler, he quickly finished his AKC Championship when he arrived in the U.S. at 5 years old. He continued in the ring to help her win many Best Junior Handler placements. Together, they also won in the veterans ring at our breed specialty shows. We are grateful to the judges who have found our boy well into his veteran years.
When Reaver joined the program in 2020, we requested health testing on his parents, which included Natchez. His hips were evaluated as HD-A, equivalent to Good/Excellent through OFA. We re-test all of our males at full maturity, so we re-tested him at 6 years old, discovering unilateral remodeling leading to a diagnosis of mild hip dysplasia. While we can list many mitigating circumstances such as time spent overweight, we recognize an elevated risk in this litter of orthopedic issues later in life. We are confident in proceeding given his evaluation at his ideal age for orthopedic health and his continued soundness into his later years.
We are hoping to see balance and moderation in these puppies. With Natchez lending his compactness and Nacho lending floaty movement, we believe there’s potential for some flashy show dogs. Regardless, their pups will have strong, functional structure, ready for any job they’re given.
Temperament
These puppies will be a joyful bunch. Both parents have a zest for life and a love for their families that is unmatched. To be smiled at by Nacho is to know love. To have Natchez shove his entire wagging butt into your lap for pets is to feel happiness. Neither of them have ever had a bad day and we expect their puppies to be much of the same.
Natchez has demonstrated stability, versatility, and adaptability his entire life. When he came to the US at 5 years old, he stepped off of transport and into the arms of a child who he immediately claimed as his own. He carved a place into the Menard family that wasn’t there with his smile and desire to please.
Together with his new family, he proved himself in conformation, obedience, rally, and more. Every temperament test he took, he passed with flying colors. When tested for bite sports, he showed that he knew the game, and would play it with seriousness, but we focused in other areas. Every challenge put in front of him, he took on with joy.
His focus and biddability are lovely, a trait that he shares with his progeny. He will work happily for some kibble or praise, working hard to engage sometimes fleeting brain cells to learn new tricks or how to refine his free stack.
He’s overall a dog that exemplifies the “country gentleman” we adore within the breed.
When it comes to describing Nacho, we hate to just say “She’s a damn good dog.”… but in all reality? That’s exactly what she is, in every stereotypical way we would describe a well rounded middle of the road beauceron. Social without being overly so, stable in literally any situation we step into, deeply thoughtful in how she applies herself with that mind of hers, and all with a humor that is hard not to smile at.
She greets those she loves with her trademark smiles, and likes to think that alongside full body wiggles that toothy grin will let her get away with crimes, or having to do things she doesn’t want to do. She’s a dog who loves deeply, who seeks out hugs, forehead kisses, and to be squeezed with affection by her people. She loves to be snuggled with full body hugs in bed, or used as a pillow, and won’t move an inch for hours, and in fact grumbles and grunts her protests if you move away before she’s done. Her emotions run deep, and she wears her heart on her sleeve.
A quick read of those she interacts with, she is gentle with those who are wary, and adores children. She is bold with those who egg her on, and knows who can handle all the usual beauceron bounces, bodychecks, and bulldozing she brings to the table. Still a beauceron, still a bull in a fine china shop.
She is the definition of dog neutral, and can join a household of new dogs like she has known them all her life. Big and small, intact and otherwise, male or female, it’s all good in her book. Though she’s also perfectly happy to be the center of someone’s world, she doesn’t mind sharing though.
She has excellent biddability underneath it all, but she demands a respectful partnership to properly apply herself. Her independent nature is not something to be stifled, but something to be guided, preferring to work as partners when navigating training. When you have a working relationship, she’s a sponge – picking up new behaviors with increasing criteria without much difficulty. Like most beaucerons, she gets bored with repetition, but that is usually a motivation issue. With a higher value reward, she can push through her boredom.
She is a brave and bold dog, though she has the thoughtfulness and self preservation we expect of an independent thinker in this breed. If you give her the gas and show her what you need, once she commits she fully commits. She provides a ton of trust in those she has a relationship with, and what you give her is given back in spades.
On stock, she’s intensely interested but fair. Her working style requires partnership and that is highlighted on livestock. She listens to her handler, watches and moves her stock, and shows great responses to pressure. While the sport isn’t one accessible to her on a regular basis, we believe she has excellent herding potential, and have gotten the same feedback from the trainer she did get to see a few times as she matured.
Nacho usually spends more time lounging on the couch than going on whirlwind adventures. But enjoys a good hike, and regular trips to favorite Chicago area haunts. However, even as a young dog, she handles change remarkably well – able to step back into a show or performance ring after months or years off. She doesn’t typically acknowledge environmental pressure – it’s hard to get her tail to stop wagging.
We’re confident that she’s going to pass this soundness and happiness onto her puppies and we can’t wait to meet them!
In Summary
We are looking forward to happy, peppy dogs in this litter, suitable to take on any challenge that requires biddability, focus, and humor. Their ideal homes enjoy working with a dog as a partnership, figuring out challenges together. They will be excellent additions to any family, bonding closely with their people and offering casual sociability to everyone else.
For those approved parties interested in the pairing, please reach out to discuss if this match is the right fit. We are still accepting limited interest at this time. If interested, please apply below.
Please reference our policy regarding harlequin placements.
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